Opposition parties rejoice with expats
12 March 2009, 11:48
Opposition parties are overjoyed at the ruling by the Constitutional Court to allow registered voters living overseas to vote during the April 22 elections.
DA federal chairperson James Selfe said they were relieved that the Constitutional Court had agreed with them on the matter.
"We are delighted at this outcome. We are delighted that the court has extended the application for special votes to March 27. We have been approached by 20 000 people outside (the country) and we will communicate this decision to them," he said.
There is still uncertainty as to what the ruling is in respect to the DA's application to allow voters to vote for parties in their home provinces, even if they are not in those provinces on April 22.
At present, the law does not make provision for this and those who are outside their home provinces are only allowed to vote Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Mulder said they were pleased at the outcome and the fact that after fighting all the way to the highest court in the land, the had succeeded.
"We took a big risk and luckily we succeeded, it shows that we can make a difference. The government tried to frustrate us by fighting (but) the court sent out a message. The ball is now in the (overseas voters') hands. The ruling tells us about the maturity of our democracy," he said.
Home Affairs spokesperson Cleopatra Mosana said Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula immediately accepted the decision.
The University of the Western Cape Constitutional Law expert Pierre de Vos said any close observers of the Constitutional Court jurisprudence would have known that the ConCourt would make that ruling.
"The legislation was not defensible," said De Voss, on the Electoral Act which prevented expatriates from voting in South Africa's democratic elections.
The Independent Electoral Commission was not immediately available for comment. - Independent Political Bureau
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DA federal chairperson James Selfe said they were relieved that the Constitutional Court had agreed with them on the matter.
"We are delighted at this outcome. We are delighted that the court has extended the application for special votes to March 27. We have been approached by 20 000 people outside (the country) and we will communicate this decision to them," he said.
There is still uncertainty as to what the ruling is in respect to the DA's application to allow voters to vote for parties in their home provinces, even if they are not in those provinces on April 22.
At present, the law does not make provision for this and those who are outside their home provinces are only allowed to vote Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Mulder said they were pleased at the outcome and the fact that after fighting all the way to the highest court in the land, the had succeeded.
"We took a big risk and luckily we succeeded, it shows that we can make a difference. The government tried to frustrate us by fighting (but) the court sent out a message. The ball is now in the (overseas voters') hands. The ruling tells us about the maturity of our democracy," he said.
Home Affairs spokesperson Cleopatra Mosana said Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula immediately accepted the decision.
The University of the Western Cape Constitutional Law expert Pierre de Vos said any close observers of the Constitutional Court jurisprudence would have known that the ConCourt would make that ruling.
"The legislation was not defensible," said De Voss, on the Electoral Act which prevented expatriates from voting in South Africa's democratic elections.
The Independent Electoral Commission was not immediately available for comment. - Independent Political Bureau
